Tuberculosis decisions — 2005

The veteran's service-connected left upper extremity disability contributed to his death from debility due to senility. The Board finds that this service-connected condition substantially or materially contributed to the cause of death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for neuritis, chronic bronchitis with tuberculosis infection, and a duodenal ulcer.

The Board determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, stating that the current disability level does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria, rheumatism/arthritis, PTB, malnutrition, an eye disorder, hearing loss, and a kidney disorder. The veteran did not submit sufficient medical evidence to support these claims.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits is denied as the veteran did not have a pending claim at the time of his death.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis with lung resection and residual right pleurisy. The RO granted a 20% evaluation for his resolved pulmonary tuberculosis, effective August 15, 2002.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that while pulmonary tuberculosis was present during service and contributed to his death, it did not substantially or materially contribute to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, back pain, and a left ear defect due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability (claimed as tuberculosis) and PTSD. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a left leg gunshot wound, malaria, arthritis, gout, tuberculosis, malnutrition, an ear disorder, and an eye disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death (pneumonia) was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking any of the listed conditions to his time in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen claims for service connection for a urinary tract/kidney disorder, pulmonary tuberculosis, gastric ulcer, dysentery, or malaria. The claim for an increased rating for malaria was also denied.

The veteran's cause of death was hypostatic pneumonia with underlying pulmonary tuberculosis. The Board found no service connection for either condition and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. Additionally, as the veteran did not have qualifying service, he could not establish basic eligibility for VA death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death or entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found no service connection for the cause of death and denied the claims for accrued benefits and nonservice-connected pension due to lack of a pending claim at the time of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or within the presumptive period following service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis. The RO previously denied this claim in January 1998, and no new or significant evidence was provided since then.

The VA is remanding the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and determining if any related symptoms are due to PTB or other non-service connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis, finding no current evidence of the condition and concluding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.